Hanger

ABSTRACT

A hanger having first and second longitudinal members pivotally connected together for being wedged between spaced supports such as joists to support a pipe, duct, and the like. Each member has side walls extending codirectionally from a longitudinal web. The side walls of one of the members terminate in edge portions turned inwardly toward the other side wall and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall for forming substantially U-shaped channels arranged for receiving edge portions of side walls of the other of the members. In this manner, the members are snapped into engagement by a pivotal movement either about a pin arranged in openings provided in the members, or about a projection provided on one member inserted in a slot provided in the other member.

United States Patent Lane 1 1 July 1, 1975 1 1 HANGER [76] Inventor: Byron D. Lane, 212 16th Ave, jg g h gg 1 Southwest Mmot N Dak 5870 Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. O'Brien; [22] Filed: Feb. 21, 1973 Harvey B. Jacobson [21] App]. No.: 334,206

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl 248/71; 248/57; 248/354 R A hanger having first and Second longitudinal mm [51] Int. Cl. E04g 25/06 hers pivotany connected t th r for being wedged [58] Field of Search 248/57, 71, 300, 324, 326,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Whitney 248/351 X Whitney... 211/123 Hurley 248/354 R lngels 403/326 Hurley 248/354 R Bogese et a1 248/73 X Hexdall 248/71 Collins l 248/57 X Hexdall 248/71 Larson 248/D1G. 3 Meehan et a1, 248/73 between spaced supports such as joists to support a pipe, duct, and the like. Each member has side walls extending codirectionally from a longitudinal web. The side walls of one of the members terminate in edge portions turned inwardly toward the other side wall and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall for forming substantially U-shaped channels arranged for receiving edge portions of side walls of the other of the members. In this manner, the members are snapped into engagement by a pivotal movement either about a pin arranged in openings provided in the members, or about a projection pro vided on one member inserted in a slot provided in the other member.

8 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures HANGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a hanger, and particularly to a metal hanger which may be quickly and easily installed between joints, and the like, for supporting pipes, ducts, and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art In air conditioning and plumbing systems for houses and other buildings, fluid-carrying pipes and ducts, electricity carrying conduits, and the like, are conventionally supported from joists, rafters, and studs of the building. A common device for achieving this support is the adjustable bar hanger. examples of which are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,162,413, 3,163,386, and 3,285,553. These prior art hangers feature longitudinally movable sections permitting adjustment of the length of the hanger to wedge it between joists, and the like. A disadvantage of this conventional kind of arrangement is the difficulty encountered in sliding the sections longitudinally to wedge the hanger bar in place.

US. Pat. Nos. 1,927,515 and 2,770,436 show electrical fixture supports employing a toggle joint arrangement to wedge the support into position. The device of the former patent is unable to support other than light loads due to a tendency to pivot out of position, while the device of the latter patent is held in position by a cotter pin applied after the toggle joint has been straightened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an article supporting hanger in which a pair of pivotally connected members in toggle joint arrangement snap into locked engagement upon being straightened and wedged between spaced supports.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an article supporting hanger that can be quickly and easily installed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an article supporting hanger which is adjustable to different spacings of selected supports.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a hanger having: first and second members arranged for engaging one another and forming a support; and an arrangement pivotally attaching the members to one another and permitting the members to pivot about one another and snap into an engaging and supporting position wedged between spaced supports.

The members preferably each includes a longitudinal web having spaced edges, and side walls extending codirectionally from these web edges to edge portions parallel to them. The edge portions of the side walls of at least one member are turned inwardly toward the other side wall and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall for forming a substantially U- shaped channel arranged for receiving an edge portion of side walls of the other member and snap the members into locked engagement.

One preferred embodiment according to the present invention pivotally attaches the members by providing matable openings in same and selectively arranging a pin in the openings. To provide for adjustability, at least one of the members is furnished with a pluraiity of pairs of opposed openings in its side walls, and the pin, which may be a conventional nail, is selectively arranged in a predetermined pair of these openings.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention pivotally attaches the members by means of a projection provided on one of the members, and an opening provided in the other member and arranged for selectively receiving the projection. Advantageously, the projection extends from an end of the web of the one member in the direction of extension of the side walls of that member, and a plurality of slots forming the opening receiving the projection are provided in the web of the other member to permit the desired adjustability of the hanger.

An advantageous feature of the present invention provides each member with a pointed portion arranged at a longitudinal end for insertion into a support.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a hanger according to the present invention in position to be wedged between a pair of joists.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the hanger in article supporting position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of a hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly cut away and in section, showing the hanger of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the members snapped into their engaging position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing a portion of the hanger of FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing a portion of one of the members forming a hanger according to FIGS. 4 to 8.

FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view showing another preferred embodiment of a hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partly cut away and in section, showing the members forming the hanger of FIG. 10 in engaging position.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, similar to FIG. 11, but drawn to a larger scale.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing the hanger according to FIGS. 10 to 12.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along the line l4-l4 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings will now be discussed in detail. FIG. 1 shows a hanger 10 according to the present invention intended to be used to support a conventional pipe 12 from a pair of spaced, preferably wood,

joists 14. These joists 14 may be employed in a conventional manner to support either a floor or ceiling 16. A hand 18 grasps first and second members 20 and 22 pivotally connected together as by a pin 24 for pivoting members 20, 22 about one another and snapping them into an engaging and article supporting position wedged between joists 14. FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings show hanger with members 20, 22 snapped together to support pipe 12.

FIGS. 4 to 9 show one preferred embodiment of a hanger according to the present invention. This embodiment happens to be hanger 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings. Each member and 22 includes a longitudinal web 26 and 28, respectively, each having spaced edges. Longitudinal side walls 30, 32 and 34, 36 extend codirectionally from webs 26, 28 to edge portions parallel to the edges of webs 26 and 28. These edge portions are designated 38, 40 and 42, 44. Edge portions 38, 40 of member 20 are turned inwardly toward the other side wall 32, 30 and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall 30, 32 for forming a substantially U-shaped channel arranged for receiving an edge portion 42, 44 of side walls 34, 36 of member 22. In this manner, members 20, 22 are snapped into locked engagement. Edge portions 42, 44 of member 22 are also advantageously turned inwardly toward the other side wall 36, 34 and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall 34, 36 for forming a substantially U-shaped channel similar to that for edge portions 38, 40. The advantage of providing member 22 with such U-shaped channels is that they will provide a rounded, strengthened edge adding to the rigidity, safety, and longevity of the hanger.

Advantageously, each member 20, 22 has a pointed portion arranged at a longitudinal end for insertion into a support such as joists 14. Each of these pointed portions has a V-shaped notch 46, 48 provided in an end of members 20, 22, and arranged converging in from the end of an associated web 26, 28. An end portion 50, 52 and 54, S6 of each side wall 30, 32 and 34, 36 is arranged slanted toward and onto the associated web 26, 28 for cooperating with the notches 46, 48 and forming a pair of longitudinally extending points or pointed portions 58, 60 and 62, 64. These points will act to cut into wood, and the like, and grip the support to provide additional strength to the hanger system.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 of the drawings uses matable openings in members 20, 22 and a pin 24, advantageously in the form of a conventional nail, selectively arranged in the openings for pivotally attaching members 20, 22. The openings in member 20 are provided in flanges 66, 68 and are formed by cutting away a portion of web 26 adjacent an end of member 20 spaced from the end provided with points 58, 60, and openings 70, 72 are arranged in flanges 66, 68 in opposed relationship. Member 22 is provided with a plurality of pairs of opposed openings 74, 76, in side walls 34, 36, and pin 24 is selectively arranged in a predetermined pair of openings 74, 76. This arrangement is easily un derstood from FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that if it is desired to make members 20 and 22 identical, so as to be interchange able, member 20 could be provided with openings such as openings 74, 76, and member 22 could be provided with flanges 66, 68, and their associated openings 70, 72.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 14 of the drawings another embodiment of a hanger according to the present invention has a pair of members 78 and 80. Since the locking engagement U-shaped channels of members 78, 80 is identical to members 20, 22, it will not be dis cussed in detail herein. The pivotal attachment of members 78, and 80 is achieved by providing on a web 82 of member 78 an angle-bracket 84 forming a projection. Web 86 of member 80 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 88 arranged transversely to the longitudinal extent of member 80 for selectively receiving the projection formed by bracket 84. When the projection is inserted into a predetermined slot 88, members 78, 80 may be pivoted from the broken line position for member 80 in FIG. 11 of the drawings to the solid line position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. This pivotal movement will snap members 78 and 80 into locking engagement with one another in the same manner as members 20 and 22.

As mentioned above, the basic construction of members 78 and 80 as regards the web, side walls, and U- shaped channels may be the same as for members 20 and 22. In addition, members 78 and 80 may be provided with pointed end portions similar to those of members 20 and 22 for improving the grip of the holder with respect to joists 14.

Referring again to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings, a holder according to the present invention, it being understood that the holder of FIGS. 10 to 14 may be used in a similar manner, is first arranged between a pair of supports such as joists I4. By grasping members 20, 22 or 78, 80, as the case may be, in the manner illustrated by hand 18, the members are quickly and easily snapped into locking engagement as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The points 58, 60 and 62, 64 will tend to dig into the, for example, wood from which joists 14 are constructed to improve the grip of the holder. If a pipe l2, and the like, is already in position as shown in FIG. 1, one of the members, member 20 being shown, will be abutted against this article to be supported prior to pivoting the members into locked position.

As can be readily understood from the above description and from the drawings, a hanger according to the present invention may be quickly and easily wedged into position between a pair of spaced supports. The preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 9 of the drawings may also be easily removed simply by releasing pressure on pin 24 and removing same from open ings 70, 72, 74, and 76. The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 of the drawings is advantageous for essentially permanent installations.

The engagement ofpin 24 in the associated openings, and of bracket 84 in a slot 88, prohibits the members from sliding toward one another, and maintains the members in a wedged position.

Members 20, 22 and 78, 80 may be constructed in a known manner from sheet metal, and the like. Galvanized steel has been found satisfactory as a sheet metal for this purpose.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hanger for supporting articles between spaced supports, comprising, in combination:

a. first and second members arranged for engaging one another and forming a support, the members each including a longitudinal web having a pair of spaced edges, longitudinal side walls extending codirectionally from the web edges to edge portions parallel to the web edges, the edge portions of the side walls of the members turned inwardly toward one another and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall substantially throughout the length of the edge portions for forming substantially U-shaped channels providing rounded, strengthened edges, one of the members being arranged for receiving in the channels thereof the edge portions of side walls of the other member and snap the members into rigid locked engagement; and

b. means for pivotally attaching the members to one another and permitting the members to pivot with respect to one another and snap into an engaging and supporting position wedged between spaced supports, with the pivot arranged relative to the members for always causing a substantial portion of the members to overlap in the engaging and supporting position.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each member has a pointed portion arranged at a longitudinal end for insertion into a support, each pointed portion having a V-shaped notch provided in an end of the web of the member and arranged converging in from the web end, and an end portion of each side wall extending from the web arranged slanted toward and onto the web for cooperating with the notch and forming a pair of longitudinally extending points.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for attaching includes matable openings in the members, and a pin selectively arranged in the openings.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein one of the members is provided with a plurality of pairs of opposed openings in the side walls thereof, the opposed openings extending from the pointed portion to a midportion of the one of the members, and the pin is selectively arranged in a predetermined pair of openings.

5. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for attaching includes a projection provided on one of the members, and an opening provided in the other of the members and arranged for selectively receiving the projection.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the projection extends from an end of the web of the one of the members in the direction of extension of the side walls of the one member, and a plurality of slots forming the opening receiving the projection are provided in the web of the other of the members for permitting adjustability of the hanger, the slots extending from the pointed portion into a midportion of the other of the members.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for attaching includes matable openings in the members, and a pin selectively arranged in the openings.

8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for attaching includes a projection provided on one of the members, and an opening provided in the other of the members and arranged for selectively receiving the projection. 

1. A hanger for supporting articles between spaced supports, comprising, in combination: a. first and second members arranged for engaging one another and forming a support, the members each including a longitudinal web having a pair of spaced edges, longitudinal side walls extending codirectionally from the web edges to edge portions parallel to the web edges, the edge portions of the side walls of the members turned inwardly toward one another and in reverse direction to the extent of the associated side wall substantially throughout the length of the edge portions for forming substantially U-shaped channels providing rounded, strengthened edges, one of the members being arranged for receiving in the channels thereof the edge portions of side walls of the other member and snap the members into rigid locked engagement; and b. means for pivotally attaching the members to one another and permitting the members to pivot with respect to one another and snap into an engaging and supporting position wedged between spaced supports, with the pivot arranged relative to the members for always causing a substantial portion of the members to overlap in the engaging and supporting position.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each member has a pointed portion arranged at a longitudinal end for insertion into a support, each pointed portion having a V-shaped notch provided in an end of the web of the member and arranged converging in from the web end, and an end portion of each side wall extending from the web arranged slanted toward and onto the web for cooperating with the notch and forming a pair of longitudinally extending points.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for attaching includes matable openings in the members, and a pin selectively arranged in the openings.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein one of the members is provided with a plurality of pairs of opposed openings in the side walls thereof, the opposed openings extending from the pointed portion to a midportion of the one of the members, and the pin is selectively arranged in a predetermined pair of openings.
 5. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for attaching includes a projection provided on one of the members, and an opening provided in the other of the members and arranged for selectively receiving the projection.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the projection extends from an end of the web of the one of the members in the direction of extension of the side walls of the one member, and a plurality of slots forming the opening receiving the projection are provided in the web of the other of the members for permitting adjustability of the hanger, the slots extending from the pointed portion into a midportion of the other of the members.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for attaching includes matable openings in the members, and a pin selectively arranged in the openings.
 8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for attaching includes a projection provided on one of the members, and an opening provided in the other of the members and arranged for selectively receiving the projection. 